Jack and His Seven Foes — page 62: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

JACK AND HIS SEVEN FOES, —— EE i CHAPTER XX. SURMISES ABOUT THE SETTLER’S FATE—A ROW ON BOARD—SPANKER COMES IN AT THE FINISH. _ Wiuar was the fate of the Settler ? | “*SYourvare next on the’ lst,” he® said; That was the question that exercised | ina cold hard tone of voice. “I put the minds of his four friends left on board the ‘* Rattlesnake.” The events on shore were not quite clear to them, the broken rocks on the promontory having hidden the final act of the little drama. Jack returned on board, the anchor was hoisted, and the ‘“ Rattlesnake ”’ once more turned her form seaward. And nobody said a word to the four of what had happened on shore. ‘But where’s the need?” groaned the Sneezer. ‘‘Of course the Settler’s dead. Oh—atchew—atchew—atchew ! Who’ll be the next, I wonder ?”’ “You, I hope,” said the Panther, “ if only to stop that confounded sneezing.” “He seems: to be picking off the strongest first,’ remarked the Pantaloon. “Dunmore and Magson were strong as bullocks, and I should think that the Settler could wrestle with most men. Confound the cub! He’s as bad as the old lion to deal with.” ‘“\Wemust do something,” said the Swageerer, with his bully’ ing alr. oy. hy don’t you fellows choose your time, and go at him in a body? He’s only a boy.” “ Ah, that’s it,” sneered the Panther, “why don’t we a at him in a body? Because he’s too much for us 1D cunning, he overmatches us every way.’ They were in their bunks, the only place where they felt at all safe to talk, and the lamp was swinging overhead. my seal upon you.” With his forefinger he touched the Panther on the forehead, and turned away. At the same moment the lamp was extinguished, and they were left in darkness. Like a spectre Jack had come upon them, and hke a phantom he had vanished from their sieht. A cold perspiration broke out upon their taces and bodies, and the very blood in their veins seemed to run cold, while their hearts almost ceased to beat in horror and despair. In those few moments appeared to be concentrated all the agonies of a life- time; and in their ears still rang the words, ‘I put my seal upon you.” Only the chattering of the teeth of the Pantaloon and Sneezer could be heard for a time. At last the Panther broke out into violent declamation. And the Sneezer gave vent to his feclings in a fit of violent sneezing. The Pantaloon struck him in the ribs, and hissed out fiercely— i my Apparently they were alone, but suddenly, without any warning, Jack | was in their midst. No spectre could have come more mysteriously upon them. Frozen with terror, these four men lay still, staring at hil boy whom they had just cause to dread. Speak they could not. He went round from bunk to bunk, until he came to that of the Panther. There he paused and looked at its cecupant with eyes full of meaning. “Be quict. Hang you, be quiet! Your sneezes sound like pistol shots in ears, and make me tremble so, I can’t keep still.” “ Bat—atchew '—atchew !” ‘Curse you,” cried the Swaggerer, stop that!” a eanwhile the rage of the Panther crew deeper and fiercer eve1 y moment, fill he worked himself up into such a fit of desperation as to render his ravings almost unintelligible. His fury, as expressed in words, was something awful, and it made all who heard him shudder. The Swaggerer ventured to remonstrate with him. f It sno good going on in that violent way,” he said ; ‘“1’d as soon hear such Jan neuage Rit the lips of a dying man.” “And am I not dying Am I not as good as dead ?”’ cried the Panther. ‘And who has brought me to 1t but you, you sneaking hound! COMiclooe “S Co